Tera Nova dinosurs TV show

"Jurassic Park" meets "Avatar." Yep, that's Fox's new TV series "Terra Nova" in a nutshell.
Tera Nova TV show
"Terra Nova" takes place in 2149, in a world where the air quality has deteriorated so much that plant life has died off. The show follows the Shannon family, which is fairly two-dimensional. The star of "Terra Nova" is Stephen Lang, who doesn't vary too far from his role as the baddie in "Avatar," and in fact, "Terra Nova" feels a lot like "Avatar" at times. "Terra Nova" is nothing particularly earth-shattering, and at times, feels rather by-the-numbers, even for a show about people from the year 2149 living among dinosaurs.
Tera Nova TV show
Watching people share a jungle with TV-level CGI dinosaurs is just escapist enough to make up for its derisive elements.
Tera Nova TV show
The two-hour series premiere of "Terra Nova" is set to air Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Tera Nova TV show
Fox’s eagerly awaited science-fiction drama “Terra Nova” is a whole lot of expensive silliness slathered on as thick as it will go. Although bestowed with Steven Spielberg’s enthusiastic imprimatur as one of the show’s executive producers (along with an endless list of producers, writers and a director whose credits include shows such as “24,” “Fringe” and “Castle”), “Terra Nova” insists you take it super seriously.
Tera Nova TV show
“Terra Nova’s” narrative center is the Shannon family, who live in 22nd-century Chicago. We can go back 85 million years and start fresh, seeding a colony called Terra Nova. Dinosaurs are far from the only big thing about Fox's Terra Nova.
Tera Nova TV show
Avatar's Stephen Lang, who plays Terra Nova's colony leader Nathaniel Taylor, likes the fact that Fox is going big. As Terra Nova begins, the Shannons — parents Jim (Jason O'Mara) and Elisabeth (Shelley Conn) and their three children — are caught violating the two-child maximum of polluted, overcrowded, dying 2149 Earth, resulting in prison time for Jim. In some way, Terra Nova is, too. Even though these are trying times, there's a sense of hope."

Although producers and stars say the show is more about the family than the dinosaurs, the giant reptiles are drawing a proportionate share of the attention. Spielberg influenced the dinosaur selection, with reptiles hailing from the Cretaceous Period, not the earlier era seen in his big-screen epic Jurassic Park. Pretty cool stuff."

In Australia Terra Nova has found an exotic locale that producers and actors hope will suggest a primitive environment. There's something of an epic scale, both to Australia and to the show, that seems to marry quite well."

Australia "gives us a great look for the show. The series, including the expensive pilot, represents a sizable investment for Fox. Premiere delayed

Terra Nova has a sprawling behind-the-scenes story to go along with its big-screen look. Terra Nova now has 12 executive producers, a large number even by TV standards. Viewers will treat it as another show."

Although the show has strong science-fiction elements, the network and studio are emphasizing the family-drama aspect, which would appeal to a wider audience. Actress Conn hopes that the mix of genres will give the show broad appeal. You can't pin it down as a sci-fi show. You can't pin it down as a romantic drama or family drama or teen show or kids' show. For Lang, Terra Nova is ultimately a universal story of rebirth.